Damask Rose


Damask Rose

A genus consisting of about 150 species of deciduous and semi-evergreen shrubs and climbers, widespread in northern temperate regions. The cultivation of roses dates back thousands of years. In many cases, the origins and correct names or roses are extremely difficult to elucidate. It is thought that Rosa gallica var. officinalis is descended from the S European R. rubra, and was named int he 13th century when it spread into Gaul (present day France). In the 14th century, R. x damascena known as ('Summer Damask' n the USA) was brought from Persia by knights returning from the Crusades. Rosa rugosa and R. laevigata are both of Asian origin. Roses have been important since earliest times in ritual, cosmetic, perfumes, and medicines. Various kinds were used medicinally by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Persians; in CE77 Pliny recorded 32 different disorders that responded well to treatment by rose preparations. Rosa gallica var. officinalis and R. x damascena were widely grown in medieval times for medicinal purposes. Rosa laevigata was first mentioned in Chinese medical literature about CE470, and probably reached the USA via the East India Company in 1759; as the Cherokee rose it later became the state flower of Georgia. Rosa rugosa is used to a lesser extent in Chinese medicine and is fairly recent, being first mentioned in Food as Materia Medica during the Ming dynasty (CE1368-1644); it reached Europe, the USA, and Australia during the 19th century from its homelands in Japan and N China. Red rose petals were listed in the British Pharmacopoeia until the 1930s as an astringent and flavoring for medicines. Rose oil, or attar (otto) of roses, is a steam-distilled, clear essential oil consisting of beta-damascenone, which gives the typical rose fragrance; its constituents include citronellol, and insecticidal, anti-rheumatic compound which is isolated commercially (but mainly from Pelargonium spp. See, Wild Rose Geranium) for use in rose-scented perfumes, cosmetics, and soap. The essential oil was originally extracted by macerating rose petals in oil or molten fat. In the 16th century, Persian chemists produced a superior oil by distillation. Genuine rose oil is a costly commodity, taking 0.98 tons of petals to produce 300g (11oz) of oil; for this reason, it is now largely synthesized. Rose absolute is a solvent-extract, yellow-orange essential oil, widely used in perfumery. Rose leaf oil is also used. Some 96 percen of women's perfumes and 42 percent of men's fragrances contain rose oil, putting it on par with jasmine in popularity. Rose oil also predominates in the anointing oil used in the coronation of British monarchs. Rose water was first produced by a Persian physician, Avicenna, in the 1st century CE. "Cold cream" was originally known as "ointment of rose water", because it contained rose water and rose oil. Several different roses are traditionally grown for essential oil and rose water, including R. x centifolia (Provence Rose, Rose de Mai, 'Cabbage Rose'), R. x damascena, R. gallica, and variants of R.x alba, though any strongly scented rose can be used. Bulgarian rose attar is mainly from R. x alba and R. x damascena. The Kazanlik rose, R. x damascena 'Trigintipetala', is outstandingly fragrant but the true cultivar is rarely seen; R. 'Professeur Emile Perrot' is very similar and widely cultivated. Rose hips contain large amounts of vitamins, notably vitamin C; one cup of rose-hip pulp contains as much vitamin C as 40 oranges. Toward the end of World War II, when citrus fruits were unavailable, 120-450 tons of rose hips were harvested from the wild in Britain each year to make rose-hip syrup as a vitamin C supplement for children.

Vigorous, arching, deciduous shrun with gray-green leaves, divided into 5, rarely 7, ovate to elliptic leaflets, to 6cm (2½in) long. Fragrant, semi-double, pale pink to white flowers, to 8cm (3in) across, are borne in clusters of up to 12 in summer, followed by bristly red, cone-shaped fruits to 2.5cm (1in) long.


Common Name:
Damask Rose
Other Names:
Summer Damask
Botanical Name:
Rosa x damascena
Genus:
Rosa
Family:
Rosaceae
Native Location:
Middle East
Cultivation:
Well-drained, moist, rich neutral to slightly acid soil (including clay) in sun. Rosa rubiginosa enjoys dry, calcareous conditions; R. laevigata thrives in poor soils, R. rugosa tolerates dry, sandy or coastal conditions. Remove dead and damaged wood, and prune lightly in early winter, removing weak growths. Most species and old roses flower on the previous year's growth and should not be cut back hard. Rose hips, especially of R. rugosa, may be damaged by birds. Leaves may be damaged by blackspot, downy mildew, rust, viruses, and sawfly. Buds and flowers are prone to attack by aphids.
Propagation:
By seed sown in autumn (species only); by budding in summer; by hardwood cuttings in autumn.
Harvest:
Petals are collected when flowers first open and distilled for oil and rose water, used fresh for syrups, crushed into pastes, or dried for use in decoctions. Fruits are picked when ripe and used fresh or dried in decoctions, or made into syrups and candy. Seeds (R. rubiginosa) from ripe fruits are processed commercially for oil extraction.
Height:
2m (6ft)
Width:
1.5m (5ft)
History:
Whole books have been written about the glorious rose, inarguably the most beautiful and beloved of blossoms. For more than 3,000 years, this "gift of the angels" has delighted the senses and soothed the souls of people worldwide. Many marvelous myths have sprung up around the origins of the rose, but one ancient Greek legend stands above the rest. Chloris, the Greek goddess of flowers, was wandering in the woods when she discovered the dead body of a lovely wood nymph. She called on the other gods and goddesses to help her transform the lifeless nymph into the most beautiful and enduring of flowers. Dionysus, the god of wine and pleasure, gave the flower its luscious nectar and scent; Aphrodite, the goddess of love, imbued the flower with her own pristine beauty; the three sister goddesses Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia—collectively known as the Graces—endowed the rose with their respective gifts of intelligence, happiness, and eternal youth. Finally, Chloris herself bestowed on the rose a shimmering crown of dewdrops and declared the blossom the "queen of the flowers". Through the ages, writers, painters, horticulturists, gardeners, florists, perfumers, lovers, and sensualists of every ilk have ensured that the rose's many delights remain forever immortalized.
And if all that were not enough, the rose is also good medicine. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, and Romans used various rose preparations to treat over 30 different ailments—from coughs and kidney disorders, to fatigue and infections.
And the herb is still used today for many of the same ailments. Rose petals (the plant's flowers), rose hips (the plant's fruits), and rose oil and rose water (both made from the petals) all have distinct therapeutic properties. Petals from the apothecary's rose and damask rose are most frequently used for medicinal purposes—in teas, rose oil, and rose water. Dog rose is the major source of rose hips used in teas. Rose hips from another Asian species (R. laevigata) with the unlikely common name Cherokee rose in the United States—but jing ying zi in the East—are also popular in the West, but only in the last 250 years. They have been used in Chinese medicine, however, for almost 2,000 years to fight bacterial and viral infections. Cherokee rose traveled to the United States in the mid-eighteenth century—via the East India Trading Company—and became Georgia's state flower.
Warning:
Hips and seeds contain irritant hairs. R. canina and R. rubiginosa are subject to statuatory control as weeds in some countries, notably in parts of Australia and the USA.
Variants:
Trigintipetala
Syn. Kazanlik
(Kazanlik Rose)

Has very fragrant, semi-double, red flowers.
Var. versicolor
(York and Lancaster Rose)

Bears loosely double flowers, to 6cm (2½in) across, marbled pale pink and deep pink.
Hardiness:
Z4
Parts Used:
Flowers buds, petals.
Properties:
An aromatic, relaxing, tonic herb.
Medicinal Uses:
Rose has antibacterial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, digestive, expectorant, sedating, stomach-soothing, and tonic properties. Rose petals are taken internally—usually in teas—as a blood and nerve tonic to treat anxiety, bronchitis, canker sores, colds, congestion, coughs, depression, diarrhea, fatigue, menstrual cramps, and sore throats. They are used externally to treat headaches, irritated eyes, mouth sores, skin infections, sore throats, and wounds. Rose hips are used internally—in teas—as a general tonic (the herb is rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, and the B vitamins) and to treat bacterial and viral infections, colds, diarrhea, flu and upset stomach. Rose oil is sometimes used internally for bacterial and viral infections, but only under the supervision of a medical practitioner. It is most commonly used (inhaled) in aromatherapy to relieve anxiety and depression. Rose oil is used externally for inflammatory skin infections and to treat burns and scars. Rose water is used externally for irritated eyes and damaged skin.
Preparation:
To make a tea from the petals, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried herb and steep for 5 minutes. Strain, and drink up to 2 cups a day. To make a tea from the hips, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried herb and steep for 5 minutes. Strain, and drink up to 3 cups a day.
Caution:
Do not substitute hybrid or garden roses for medicinal roses featured here. Internal use of rose oil—which is generally considered nontoxic—should be done under the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner. Much rose oil is adulterated with other plant materials and filler. Pure rose oil is expensive and less widely available.
Culinary Uses:
Petals, with bitter "heel" removed, are added to salads, crystallized, made into jams, jellies and syrups; also used to scent tea.
Economic Uses:
Petals are used to make rose oil, rose absolute, and rose water, used in perfumery, and in bath and skin care products. Rose water is used to flavor candy (notably Turkish Delight), desserts, sorbets, mousses, jams, syrups, and jellies. Petals are crystallized for decorating cakes and chocolates. Dried petals and rosebuds are important ingredients of the N African spice mixture, ras el hannout; also used in potpourris.
Bibliography:
The Encyclopedia or Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp. 346-347
The Modern Herbal Primer by Nancy Burke Copyright©2000 Yankee Publishing, Inc. pp 121-123